vAcademiaVirtual Spaces LLC, Russia

Educational Virtual World with 3D Recording

presented by Mikhail FominykhNorwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), 15 January 2013

3D Virtual Worlds

• Multiuser• Synchronous• Persistent• Facilitated by networked computers• Each user is represented by a single avatar• Three-dimensional graphical interphase• Social Worlds/Game Worlds

3D Virtual Worlds

• Multiuser• Synchronous?• Persistent?• Facilitated by networked computers• Each user is represented by a single avatar?• Three-dimensional graphical interphase• Social Worlds/Game Worlds

3D Virtual Worldsas learning environments

• Low cost and high safety• Three-dimensional representation of learners

and objects• Interaction in simulated contexts • Sense of presence • Variety of tools

Why 3D recording?Challenge

Synchronous - Asynchronous

Synchronous(online)

Asynchronous(offline)

TraditionalLearning Face-to-face classes

Text books andvideo recorded

classes

2D e-Learning Videoconferences Recorded videoconferences

3D e-Learning Classes in virtual worlds ?

Types of learning

Synchronous/live Asynchronous/content

Transformation of synchronous to asynchronous 2D e-Learning

Synchronous class

Asynchronous class

Face to face class

Videoconference

CMS/LMS

live/online

content

3D recordingProposal

Face to face class

Synchronous class

Asynchronous class

live/online

content

Transformation of synchronous to asynchronous 3D e-Learning

VirtCAST

Synchronous(online)

Asynchronous(offline)

TraditionalLearning Face-to-face classes

Text books andvideo recorded

classes

2D e-Learning Webinars Recorded webinars

3D e-Learning

Types of learning

Synchronous - Asynchronous

vAcademia

1. Starting a class in vAcademia

2. Press Recording button

3. Conducting a class in vAcademia

4. Press Stop button

5. New content – 3D recording of the class

6. 3D recordings – course content

3D recordingPrevious Work?

• Asynchronous Virtual Classroom (1999)• N*Vector (2000)• MASSIVE-3 (2002)• Wonderland

Teaching tools

• Interactive whiteboard• Content storages• Control and feedback tools

Teaching tools

• Interactive whiteboard′ Sharing of an application window′ Sharing screen area′ Sharing web-camera image″ Drawing figures and typing text on the whiteboard″ Inserting text from the clipboard‴ Slide presentations‴ Area print screen‴ Pasting images from clipboard on a whiteboard

• Content storages• Control and feedback tools

Teaching tools

• Interactive whiteboard• Content storages

o Object Gallery (standard classroom objects) o Resource collection (user objects PPT, PDF, PNG, JPEG, test

templates in XML, test results in CSV, Collada, and 3DS)• Control and feedback tools

Teaching tools

• Interactive whiteboard• Content storages• Control and feedback tools

o Class Controlo Notes (text, sound, and graphics) o Backchannelo Clicker

Interactive whiteboardInteractive whiteboardReal world vAcademia

Chalk and board Drawing on white boards

Pointer for each user

[Laser] pointer

Slide show presentations

Slide show presentations

Web camera sharing

Web camera

Desktop sharingDesktop

Resource CollectionResource Collection

Educational resources for both teachers and students may be uploaded into Collection.

Environment designEnvironment design

Users can organize learning space at any location of vAcademia by arranging the furniture in the way they like.

User’s 3D objectsUser’s 3D objects

Users can upload their own 3D objects in Collada format, which extends the possibilities for creating learning environments

Feedback and class controlFeedback and class control

Backchannel

Clicker tools

Users may share their comments and impressions in the form of text, graphic, and voice notes.

Text, graphic, and voice notes

Feedback and class controlFeedback and class control

Locations

• Common Space, Temporary, and Standard locations• Locations “My Home”• Communication areas

Navigation

• Large and mini maps• Visitors menu• Invitation to scheduled classes• Notification about nearby open classes

Time machine

tR1 R2

R3

R4

R5

Real time class 1

Real time class 2

Real time class 3

Real time class 4

Parallel space

Parallel time

Real time class R0

R1

R1

R2

Recording

Replay

Recording

Web-site support

New course

3D recordings

3D recording info

Scenarios of use

• Visiting a 3D recording• by a group of learners• actively working inside• with almost the same presence effect

• Creating a new 3D recording being inside one• guiding learners only through some parts of

the original class• enhancing a class with additional discussions,

questions and comments• using text, graphic, and sound notes

Visiting a 3D recording

tLive class

R1 – 3D recordings of the class

R1

3D recording without some of the parts

x x x

R2

R1 – 3D recordings of the classt

R1

R2 – shorter 3D recording based on R1

3D recording with additional and replaced parts

x x

R1 – 3D recordings of the classt

R3 – longer 3D recording based on R1

R1

R3

3D recording with enhanced with notes

x x

R1 – 3D recordings of the classt

R4 – 3D recording based on R1

R1

R4

First user evaluation: Cooperation Technology course at NTNU

• Target group• 35 master students• Project work in groups of 3-5

• Activities• Lecture and a virtual tour in SL• Lecture and a seminar in vA

First user evaluation: Cooperation Technology course at NTNU

First user evaluation: Cooperation Technology course at NTNU

Anonymity

Avatar

_Custo

mization

Awareness

Building_

and_sc

ripting

Easy_

access

_cross_

platform

Economics

Enga

gemen

t

Genera

l_Purp

ose

Good_grap

hics

Informal_

communica

tion_and_so

cial_i

nteracti

on

Low_co

st

Mirror_r

eal_l

ife

Resource

s_ava

ilable

Synch

ronous

Tech

_support

Tools_

and_fe

atures

Widely

_used

_large

_community

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Second Life Advantages

First user evaluation: Cooperation Technology course at NTNU

Anonymity

Avatar

_Custo

mization

Awareness

Building_

and_sc

ripting

Easy_

access

_cross_

platform

Economics

Enga

gemen

t

Genera

l_Purp

ose

Good_grap

hics

Informal_

communica

tion_and_so

cial_i

nteracti

on

Low_co

st

Mirror_r

eal_l

ife

Resource

s_ava

ilable

Synch

ronous

Tech

_support

Tools_

and_fe

atures

Widely

_used

_large

_community

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Second Life Advantages

First user evaluation: Cooperation Technology course at NTNU

0

5

10

15Second Life Advantages

First user evaluation: Cooperation Technology course at NTNU

3D_Reco

rding

Asynch

ronous

Coordinati

on_support_

LMS

Design

ed_fo

r_Educati

on_and_C

ollaborati

on

Form

al

Good_nav

igation

Importi

ng_3D_o

bjects

Locati

ons

Low_co

st

Teach

ing_tools

Uploading_

and_st

oring_

resource

s0

5

10

15

20

25

30

vAcademia Advantages

First user evaluation: Cooperation Technology course at NTNU

05

1015202530

vAcademia Advantages

First user evaluation: Cooperation Technology course at NTNU

048

12Second Life Limitations

First user evaluation: Cooperation Technology course at NTNU

0

4

8

vAcademia Limitations

Patterns

vAcademia• Few strong advantages• 3D recording• Educational/serious focus• Teaching tools

• Many moderate limitationsSecond Life• Many moderate advantages• Few strong limitations• No 3D recording• Technical problems• Unserious reputation and distruction

Current work

• Additional functionality • custom learning environments

• New learning scenarios• synchronous and asynchronous activities• Virtcast – new type of user-generated content

• New interfaces• CAVE• Kinect

Future work

• Improving accessibility• different operating systems• mobile devices• browser-based client

• Collaboration in R&D• We are looking for partners, investors, and

customers

Thank you!

http://vacademia.com

http://www.facebook.com/vAcademia

@vacademia_info

http://www.slideshare.net/vacademia

Educational virtual world vAcademiainfo@vacademia.com

presented by Mikhail Fominykhmikhail.fominykh@ntnu.no

http://www.idi.ntnu.no/~fominykh/

http://www.linkedin.com/in/fominykh

http://slideshare.net/mfominykh/

http://vacademia.com/userprofile/show/id/808